Wednesday, 2 October 2013

Getting Ready for winter Part II - Clothes

After D's (deceptively) small list yesterday I need to itemise the things that I do to get ready for winter.

Today I am looking at keeping warm and concentrating on clothes.

Firstly I sort out my winter clothes, not forgetting to leave out some summer T shirts to use as vests.
This is also a good time to have a proper sort out. If I haven't worn it for two winters, I ask myself why not? If it is because it is not comfortable then for goodness sake why am I keeping it? (Frugal doesn't have to mean hair shirt). But before I send it to the charity shop, I ask myself.. can it be recycled/styled/used in some way? Trouser legs make great draught excluders - Cut off the legs, sew up one end, fill the leg with cut up really old clothes or tights that won't make polishing/ cleaning rags. Then sew up the other end and place at the foot of doors to exclude draughts. You can't have too many of these, though when draught-proofing your home you must always be aware of the danger of carbon monoxide.
The arms of jumpers make great gauntlets to keep your wrists warm, with a stitch at the thumb, or even leg warmers. Now I am not suggesting that I will be a fashion goddess in these, but in the comfort of my own home who cares?! Jumper arms also make good orphan lamb coats.
As well as my fleece lined waterproofs I have a couple of thin folded up waterproofs, one at the door and one in the car.
There are many ways to recycle your own clothes and you will probably know considerably more than I. Also look on Pinterest and other such sites for inspiration.
If it looks as though you are bit short of jumpers, leggings or whatever, get yourself down to the charity shop/jumble sale before you set off for the "proper" shops.
I then check over buttons, zips etc...yes, I do sometimes (nearly always) put stuff away that needed seeing to.
I then make a list of what else I need - usually thick tights... good for men and women under trousers too.
My attention then turns to hats, gloves and scarvescvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvAWQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Dixie the cat did that.. thought I would leave it in !
I think you can never have too many gloves. they get wet and/or dirty very often, so spare pairs are a must. I have leather ones for when driving and work gloves and knitted gloves I also have some fingerless ones (quicker to knit ha ha) which are invaluable for the winter when carrying out certain jobs. There are plenty of easy patterns for those who knit or you could ask someone to knit some for you. Aunties, sisters and grandmas are good for this one.
Ditto hats. Never forget that you loose a tremendous amount of heat through your head. Those folk who used nightcaps knew what they were doing. So if it is cold out, or in for that matter, pull a woolly hat on and you will be warmer in no time. I have a few knitted ones and a couple of those lumberjacky ones with flaps.
I have scarves but rarely wear them as a fashion-type statement, as I'm a bit of a fiddler and tend to get in a sprockle with them. However if I cross them over and tuck them in my coat I can keep both my chest and neck warm.
My other must-have are stoles (is that how you spell it?). I have several. I wear them watching television, reading in bed and sometimes in the car. They are the knitted, blankety ones you understand. Not the sparkly, to wear with an evening dress type! Stoles and ponchos are easily made with old blankets. If I knew how to use my "Bamboo" to draw how to make a poncho from a blanket and then transfer to this blog I would. However.. you will not be surprised to hear that this is a techno thingy too far. Again try Pinterest or Google.
Finally I turn my attention to my feet - not a pretty sight!
I like to buy good shoes that last me years with the help of a friendly cobbler and regular polishing or even a bit of dubbin. These I give the once over along with my one pair of good leather boots. I also check my wellies, which I virtually live in during the winter. I have just checked them over and find that they are still water tight. the tops have ripped a bit though, So I have mended them with gaffer tape and they will do another winter. If you spring a leak in your wellies and it's a few days until pay day, just wear carrier bags on top of your socks and you will keep nice and dry until you can afford a new pair. Inside my wellies go the thick daddy socks - literally, as they do belong to D. I keep a pair by the door as well as a good supply in D's sock drawer. These go over my girly socks.
I ALWAYS wear slippers in the house, or Crocs which are lovely and warm with thick soles and nicely cushioned. These also wash easily. I see that Simple Sussex Smallholder bought a pair for £3 in the charity shops..bargain!! I always take a pair of knitted slippers when I go away. They take up hardly any room in your case and you will be so grateful for them
I would never go bare foot in the house. I reckon if you can go around bare foot at home you need to turn your thermostat down !
Well, that's enough for now. If you have anything to add and this list which is anything but exhaustive, please share.
I shall tell you how I get ready for winter in the home next time. Mind you Frugal Queen did a pretty exhaustive blog on this the other day.

Lastly, the promised Chicken photo. It seems that Stu in Scotland is not the only chicken photo lover. (Sandie and Shara)
So can you who is lurking in this Photo?

Give up? it is Uber-Broody, who has bought off two broods already this year ! ( and if looks could kill I would be stone dead)

She is hunkered down at the side of the house. The gas man found her when he was reading the meter. She wasn't there last week. So here she is going broody in October and she was out all last night in torrential rain. D. is finding some sort of board to lean against the side of the house to keep her dry. Mad Bird!!
All for now, back soon with getting the house ready for winter.
Gillx

12 comments:

I sorted hats and found we had 9 between us! Do two people really need 9 hats? Of course I didn't chuck any out as they are bound to come in handy one day. PS in your blog you've moved me to Sussex - I don't think we are posh enough to live there!

whoops sorry about the locality slip. ARE they posh in Sussex? Regarding hats. Can't have too many. Especially as each year I seem to give hats and gloves away to people who visit us who are not dressed for the weather.

I would imagine you need to be well prepared for the winter in your part of the country, we are on quite low ground and don't really get snowed in or have too many power cuts but I do like to be warm. Thick jumpers or a couple of layers and nice warm socks keep us both toasty warm and we both have a snuggle blanket for watching tv or sitting at the computer, its amazing how warm they keep you. I have new slippers on my birthday list, big sloppy ones that I can get on with thick socks no frilly dainty things for me!!

Hi it's FM here, long time follower. My blog has moved to: www.frugalmummy.blogspot.co.ukCan I ask you to publicise this please as something horrid has happened and I can't access any of my old blog or the last four years' worth of blogs - aaargh!! This means I can't find my list of 400+ follwers either, and I genuinely love to spread a little bit of happiness through my blog. Many thanks, FM xxxxx